Float-register



L. E. BAKER.

FLOAT REGISTER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24, I919.

Patented Oct. 11, 1921.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

INVENTOR a. a o

A770 EYS L. E. BAKER.

FLOAT REGISTER.

AEPLICATION man NOV. 24, 1919.

Patented Oct. 11, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I N VEN TOR 0W ATTOR E Y5.

L. E. BAKER.

FLOAT REGISTER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24, 1919.

Patented Oct. 11, 1921.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3- JNVENTOR;

i: ml

II III UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE.

LINNAEUS n. BAKER, or ron'r wAYNn, INDIANA, AssiGNon r0 wAYNn on. Tm ANDrum comrANY, or roar WAYNE, INDIANA, A conrommon 91 FLOAT-REGISTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 11, 1921.

- Application filed November 24, 1919. Serial No. 840,842.

To all whom it may concern:

column remaining after given quantities are drawn off. Such containershave come very largely into use for the casual supply of 011 or spiritto power-driven vehicles and the conditions of use require greatexactness 1n the measurement of quantities of liquid delivered, which isdiflicult to accomplish except by mechanism eliminating or m nimizingthe human element, because roadslde deliveries (for example) arefrequently required to be made in haste or under adverse conditionsunfavorable to exact measurements. My invention seeks to improve theusefulness of the device by embodying new features of structure,producing positive and exact quantitative delivery, associated with asimple means of indicating visually the amount of the particulardelivery and the exact remainder of liquid in the container.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1, is an elevation of the elevated liquid container of aso-called visible dispensing apparatus for gasolene, with parts rokenaway and in section exposing to view the float register mechanism in.optfairatilve position within, with the container lle Fig. 2, is a crosssection of the same on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1, as though the apparatuswas shown in full, in Fig. 1, V

Fig. 3, is an enlarged vertical section through the float and parts ofthe register on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, v

Fig. 4;, is an enlarged cross section through the register on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, as though the apparatus was shown in full in Fig. 3,

ig. 5, a detail, is a cross section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, as thoughthe register was there shown in full instead of in section, and Fig. 6,a detail, is a perspective of the ratchet core which drives the countingmechanism.

Referring now to the drawings, A is a liquid container of uniformcross-area throu hout its height, with fill ipe F overflow 1 c Q, anddischarge pipe D, shown in ddtt d lines within. The container haswindows a and scales a, graduated to gallons and halt gallons so thatthe quantit of liquid delivered can be readily observed by changesin thesurface height of the liquid remaining, as indicated by the float inrelation to a fixed vertical scale a adjacent to said float.

The container has a recess a, in its bottom and another a on theunderside of the handhole cover a, to receive and hold securely inposition the guide bars r, and the rack R secured between them.

A float C, made of cork, hollow metal, or other buoyant materialpreferably in the form of a shallow cylinder of relatively liberaldimensions is adapted to float upon the surface of the liquid in thecontainer and is provided with two tubular openings 0 and 0 extendedvertically through and between the upper and lower walls of the float,with ample clearance, in 'c for the guide bars r, and rack bar R, and inc for a drive shaft E, as hereinafter explained. The register mechanismhereinafter to be described is mounted upon the upper side of saidfloat.

To this end there is provided a pair of guide rollers in correspondingrelations of practically frictionless rolling contact with the fixedguide bars at opposite sides, and pivotally mounted upon brackets c 0secured upon the upper and lower sides ofthe float in correspondingrelation to the guide bars and to the tubular opening 0". These rollershave outer radial flanges to en age upon the outr sides of the guidebars to old the float at all times in proper relation thereto.

At the underside of the float and coincident with the tubular opening 0referred to, and journaled in suitable brackets across the front of therack bar R, is arranged an enlarged spur gear e, in permanent mesh wlththe rack bar and o erated by the vertical movements of the oat c andadjacent to said spur gear as a hub of same is a spur pinion e.

The spur pinion is in constant mesh above with a crown gear 6 seatedupon a vertical drive shaft E sustained at its lower end in a socketprojection upon the lower face of the float, and passing upward by atubular opening a through the float without contact therewith. Asegmental projection upward of the spur inion within the body 0 thefloat, is provi ed for by a leak-tight covering at the mner side of thebottom of the float. r

It will be seen that the vertical movements. of the float in relation tothe stationary rack R, causes corresponding rotations of the drive shaftE.v

On the upperend of the drive shaft E, is fixed a ratchet cup e, intowhich extends the lower half of a double ratchet core G, which is fixedto the lower end of the shaft which operates the counting mechanism Thiscounting mechanism may be of any usual type withvfigures showing at thewindow m, and is supported upon and fixed to the top plate 0 mclo'sed ina transparent case m.

The ratchet consists of a double ratchet core G, with-pockets g, ineach-of which is a clutch roll 9 ressed into engagement position by acoiled spring '9 There is a complete clutch ratchet consisting of thelower half of the core G, with itspockets, rolls and springs and theratchet cu e, and another consisting of the upper ha f of the ratchetcore G, with its pockets, rolls and rin and a holding clutch ring 9.This ring is held against rotation by a pin m which is the lower end ofthe screw m, that secures the case m, to the top plate 0 1 The ratchetmechanism is so arranged that the lower ratchet clutch drives the shaft'9",

in a forward direction when the float is falling and the upper ratchetclutch prevents backward rotation of the shaft g, when the float isrising. Any clutch mechanism that will accomplish this purpose iswithin'the sco e of my invention.

he mechanism should preferably be so placed upon the float as tobalance.

Adjustable stops 1, r, limit the upward and downward motionsrespectively, of the float and its register mechanism to agree with thescale. The 0 ration of the register .is as follows he container A, isfilled through the fill-pipe F, with the liquid to be measured and thefloat rises to its extreme high posi-- tion as limited by the adjustablestop r, that During this filling, process the rack gear 0, causesbackward rot;- tation of the drive shaft E, but this causes no a-y.ertical rack-bar secured to the top and bottom-of the container andpassing through is to zero on the'scale.

backward rotation of the counting. mechanism as heretofore ex lained.Any excess liquid is drained of t rough the overflow plpe 0, until theliquid in the container stands at zero on the scale.

The liquid is drawn ofl throu h the discharge plpe D, causing the liquito fall in the container A, and the float and its attendant registermechanism to fall with it. The rack ar e, being in constant engagementwith t eflxed rack R, is caused to rotate by any vertical movement ofthe float. Downward movement ofthe float rotates the drive shift E, in aforward direction, and through the ratchet clutch rotates the countingmechanism forward, but an upward movement of the float, disconnects thecountingmechanism M from the drive shaft E and it therefore remainsunaffected by the rotation of said shaft caused by such movement. Theunits on the counting mechanism are made to conform to the units on thescale, so that each allon or other units of liquid delivered isindicated on the counter. It will be seen that with the relatively largeand heavy float, a relatively large spur gear in mesh with the fixedrack and operating a small spur gear to drive a crown gear in a geartrain without lost motion, constantly immersed in a lubricating liquid,the combination resents delivery and recording devices ca ab e ofoperation under all conditions wit an exactness and despatch nototherwise attainable.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States v 1. A device of the class described comprising acontainer, a float adapted to rest by its buoyancy at all times on thesurface of the contained liquid and move vertically therewith; fixedvertical guides secured within the container; guide wheels u on thefloat in rolling contact with sai and registering the vertical movementsof the float.

fixed guides; and counting mechanism operated by 2. A liquid deliverydevice of the character upon the float in constant voperative relationwith the rack-bar; and means connected therewith for o crating acounting device.

3. In a liqui delivery device of the character indicated, a verticalcontainer of equal cross aiieas; a relatively large float having tubularvertical passages through the same;

said tubular opening without contact; a fixed guide railsimilarlysecured to the container walls and passing through the said-or asimilartubular opening in the float; guide the position of the float; aspur gear carried Wheels secured to the float in rolling contact Intestimony whereof I have hereunto set with said guide rail; a gear trainmechamy hand in presence of two subscribing Wit- 10 nism secured to theunderside of the fioat and nesses.

operated by the gear contact with the rackbar; a shaft driven thereby,extending up- LINNAEUS BAKER Ward through the float, and counting mecha-WVitnesses: nism upon the upper surface of the float in LAWRENCE H.PARROT,

connective operation with said drive shaft. GEORGE B. DUNHAM.

